The Washington critic., 1887-03-16
TOPICS OF THE DAY.

1t had been the custom of the late
Colonel Scott, says Colonel Ayres Of
the Kansas City Times, to call upon
eS. Confederate officers in Washington
and elsewhere, some Of them In the
Senate and House, for data and In.
formation TO verify the war records.
Hence, many ex.Confederatcs visited
his office from time to time and at his
request recorded their names, present
residence and rank In q register kept
for that purpose. One day an indi.
vidual who has posed in and about
society and public circles at Washing
ton as an eX.Confederatc colonel, and
on state occasions wore handsomely
embroidered gray uniform, visited
Colonel SCOTS Office and registered as
colonel Of an Arkansas regiment.
Subsequently, member of Congress
from that State likewise registered as
colonel of the same regiment, and this
duality led to an examination by Col.
Scott. The fact was disclosed that
the first individual was never
colonel of the regiment, never served
In the Confederate army In any capa.
city, was not a southern man, but had
served on Federal gunboat for awhile,
and finally dumped himself down
South after the war The member of
Congress was the colonel Of that regi.
ment all through the late war. The
confidence man had done thriving
business at Washington as an eX-Con.
federate, but this expose caused his
temporary withdrawal. The fools are
not all dead, II seems, for this very
charlatan is still at his old racket and
working II successfully.
~
President Cleveland shattered the
hopes of two lobbyists on March 4,
says Towlc of the Boston 7'rucel,or.
One is tall, handsome man, who has
been fighting claim through Congress
for the past two years. The amount of
the claim was 100000. In case of
success he was to have received $10,-
600. With great deal of hard work,
and days and nights Of worrying and
fretting, he succeeded in securing its
passage by both branches of Congress.
The bill reached the President on the
fourth day of March, and he either re-
fused or neglected to sign 1t. The re.
suit was the same, the measure was
killed. and two years of work was lost
In an hour. The lobbyist is not the
only man who Is sorry, either. The
proprietor Of one of our largest hotels
Is also weeping salty and scalding tears
of remorse. He has been boarding the
lobbyist all winter, patiently waiting
for the bill to pass so that he could get
his dues. The second case is that Of n
beautiful woman, who has been pleal-
ing for the restoration of her husband
10 the army. Her bill passed both
branches of Congress. 1t was rail
roaded through the Senate. Senator
Cockrcll Of Missouri was the only man
who fought It, and he was unusually
severe. When the vote was being
taken he turned to Senator Butler of
South Carolina, who sat at his right,
and said Butler, ] do not see how
you could vote for such a man rs the
record shows that nan to be-" The
South Carolina Senator replied, with
his blaudest smile: "Cockrell, you are
all wrong / don't care anything about
the man, but his wife Is devilish
pretty woman, and voted for her
sake" The bill went to the President.
and great deal of influence was ex.
erted to secure his signature. He re.
fused, and the handsome wife wept.